Method of and means for treating filaments formed from viscose



atented duly 27, 19 26.

outrun stratus PATENT ounce.

SAMUEL A. NEIDICH, F EDfirEWATEB- PARK, NEW JERSEY.

Mo mowing.

Liquid viscose .(cellulose sulphocarbonate) may be ooagulated or precipitated to form a gelatinous semi-solid cellulose hydrate complex by progressively projecting a stream a of such viscose into a heated atmosphere or into an aqueous solution containing a suitable acid, for instance, sulphuric or hydrochloric acid, or containing an acid salt such as sodium bi-sulphite or ammonium to either with or without neutral salts or dehydrators, or both. Such a filament is amorphous and so soft and impressionable that it 1s easily deformed even by contact with itself in successive convolutions, and even sli ht indentations of the ultimatecommercial lament formed by drying and contraction from its primarily soft gelatinous form are conspicuously noticeable because of the reflection of light therefrom, whereas, the commercial value of such filament is largely dependent upon its uniformity of cross section and uniformly lustrous appearance. Consequently, when it is desired to form such filaments of uniform cross section lireefrom indentation, it is un desirable to wind them in the usualway upon the surface of bobbins or other similar containeraand a'method of dropping such filaments in bulk is desirable. However, 39 when such filaments are dropped in loose bulk, even their own weight impressing the upper layers upon the lower layers, produces such indentations as to be undesirable.

Therefore, it is the object and efiect of my invention to provide means to suspend and support such filaments practically continuously from the time they leave is e coagulating bath until they are suficiently firm to resist such deformation or identation, so that the final roduct is of uniform cross section and without the defects aforesaid and consequently of greater commercial value.

v To that end my invention includes the provision of means to prevent adjacent layersoii the filament from thus marking each other by their weight, by supporting that weight in a liquid of a proximately equal specific gravity. Such 1quid is referably one which is also ca able of ren ering the filament sufiiciently rm to be self-supporting without deformation. For instance, an aqueous solution containing six and one half per cent-of sodium bi-sul hite, three per cent of od um sulphate lit chloride to undergo the chemical Glaubers salt),

Application filed m 253, 1925. Serial No. 32,455.

and four per cent of NI-LCL (salammoniac) sup orts such filaments and simultaneously ren ers them firm enough to be self-supporting. However, the specific gravity may be varied by increasing or amount of salt in the solution.

l have found by experiment that hypermitting the precipitated filaments to drop in a mass in the above solution and remain still for several hours, they are sufliciently firm treatment described in my copending application serial No. 26825 filed April 29, 1925.

The flotation liquid above specified is varied in specific gravity from 1.04 to 1.20 in accordance with variations in the specific gravity of the filament being suspended therein, which varies in specific gravity in accordance with the character of the means employed for its coagulation and the stage of the latter. Moreover although an ordinary coagulating bath consisting of an aqueous solution of sulphuric acid (H SO ranges from 1.2 to 1.5 specific gravity it has a tendency to increase in gravity constantly because of the formation therein of sodium sulphate incident to the reactions involved in the coagulating process. Therefore, to attain the best flotation eflect above contemplated, constant care must be exercised to maintain the specific gravity of the flotation liquid avity, as the upward pressure upon the lament from a-fiotation liquid which is too heavy may produce marksupon the filament as detrimental as the marks produced by downward pressure. Consequently, it is essential to the attainment of the full benefit of my invention to maintain the flotation liquid of ap roximately the same specific gravity as t e filament being suspended therein, despite variations in the specific gravity of such filament.

A typical example of the use of my invention to form an artificial horsehair filament is as follows: Liquid viscose is forced, conveniently by a pump or air pressure, through a single hole about .025 inch in diameter into a coagulating bath including an aqueous ammonium chloride which prompt late the viscose drate complex sufliciently coherent to be me chanically drawn through and from such solution of sodium bi-sulphite and y coa udecreasing the substantially uniform in compensation for its tendency to 1ncrease in to-an impure cellulose. y-

and preferably in a bath over a roller. Such filament, being isolated in its passage through such bath, is of uniform circular cross section and free from the defects aforesaid as it is discharged by said roller. However, to thus continue to support it in isolated position would be impracticable for lack of space and consequent consideration of cost of manufacture etc. Therefore, I providea container into which such filament may gravitate and in which it may be supported, in mass, by flotation, as above contemplated,

bath containing chemicals which facilitate the formation of the initiallysoft and gelatinous. substance of the filament to the desired solid resilient state. However, the flotation liquid may also contain any suitable solute substantially chemically inert with reference to the filament but affecting the normal specific gravity of the liquicl for instance, glucose or'molasses. Such containers may be circular in plan and oscillated at such slow rate that the filament is piled in circumferentially successive convolutions around the axis of rotation of the lated rather than revolved, to avoid twisting the filament. Such oscillation is preferably progressive, being alternately to a greater arcual extent in one direction than in the other, so that the container is ultimately charged with a mass of filament en'- tirely surrounding its axis with the overlapped portions of the filament progressively circumferentiall. distributedsupported by tfie gravitative flotation effect of the liquid in the container.

However, the filaments thus discharged as above contemplated from the coagulating ath may be received in a suitable container of rectangular configuration roller being progressively changed from end to end of the latter by guiding the filament to the roller through a device which is corres ondngly reciprocated, with the effect 0 pilmg the filament in such rectangular contamer in convolutions which are first transversely and second longitudinall successive w th reference to the length 0 such contamer, in which the filaments may be sup ported by the avitative flotation effect of the liquid as a oresaid.

v s above contemplated; in the course of manufacture by any ordinary means, such laments are successively immersed in liqu1ds which are normally of different specific gravities; beginning with a chemical coagulating bath. purlfying and aqueous washing baths; .while the filament is progressively increasing in specific gravity; but each bath in which the filament is successively received may have its container; the latter being osciltherein and and successive chemical normal specific gravity so modified, in ac cordance with my invention, as to support the filament therein, as above described.

Therefore, I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction, arrangement or procedure herein set forth, as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential features of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The method of treating a filament formed from viscose which consists in supporting it in mass in a liquid of specific gravity substantially the same as that of the filament.

2. The method of treating a filament formed from viscose which consists in subjecting it in mass to the action of a liquid coagulant normally of greater specific gravity than the filament but which has been modified by inclusion of an element decreasing its specific gravity until the latter is substantially the same as that of the filament.

3. The method of treating a filament formed from viscose which includes supporting it in mass b flotation suspension in a liquid, the speci c gravity of which 1s approximately as great as that of the filament.

4. The method of treating a filament formed from viscose which includes supporting it in mass by flotation in a liquid, the

\ specific gravity of which is substantially the same as that of the filament; and containing a chemical capable of acting upon the filament.

5. The method 'of treating a filament formed from viscose which includes-supporting it in mass by flotation in a liquld, the specific gravity of which is substantially the same as that of the filament, and containing a chemical capable of acting upon the filament, and a substance substantially chemically inert with reference to the filament but affecting the specific gravity of the li uid.

6. T e method of treating a filament formed from viscose which includes supporting the latter in mass in a liquid containing an aqueous solution of a substance capable of modifying the specific gravity of the solu tion in correspondence with the specific gravity of the filament to suspend the latter.

7. The method of treating a filament formed from viscose which consists in suspending the latter. in mass in a liquid of such specific gravity asto balance the gravitative effect upon the filament and thus suspend the latter in said liquid.

8. Means for treating in mass a filament formed from viscose which includes a liquid vehicle for said filament of specific avi approximately as great as that of t e filament.

which is approximately formed from viscose which includes a 9. Means for treating in mass a filament formed from viscose which includes a liquid coagulant for said filament normally of greater specific gravity than the filament but which has been modified by inclusion of an element decreasing its s ecific gravity until the latter is substantial y the same as that of the filament.

10. Means for treating in mass a filament formed from viscose which includes a filament flotation liquid, the specific gravity of which is approximately as great as that of the filament.

11. Means for treating in mass a filament formed from viscose which includes a filament flotation liquid, the specific gravity of as great as that of the filament; and containing a chemical capable of acting upon the filament.

12. Means for treating in mass a filamficint a ment flotation liquid, the specific gravity of which is approximately as great as that of the filament, and containing a chemical capable of acting u on the filament, and a substance substantlall chemically inert with reference to the fi ament but afi'ecting the specific gravity of the liquid.

13. Means for treating in mass a filament formed from viscose which includes liquid containing an aqueous solution of a substance capable of modifying the specific gra-' vity of the solution in correspondence with the specific gravity of the filament to suspend the latter.

' 14. Means for treating in mass a filament formed from viscose which consists of a liquid of such specific gravity as to balance the gravitative eflect upon the filament and thus suspend the latter in said liquid.

15. Means for treating in mass a filament.

formed from viscose which includes an aqueous solution, the specific gravity of which is rendered approximately as great as that of the filament.

16. Means for treating in mass a filament formed from viscose which includes an aqueous solution, the specific gravity of which is approximately as great as that of the filament; and containing a chemical capable of acting upon the filament.

17. Means for treating in mass a filament formed from viscose which includes a liquid,

the specific gravity of which is substantially the same as that of the filament, and containing a chemical capable of acting upon the filament, and a solute substantially chemically inert with reference to-the filament but itfi'ectiing the normal specific gravity of the 18. Means for treating in mass a filament formed from viscose which includes a liquid containing a solute modifying the normal specific gravity of the solution in correspondence with the specific gravity of the filament to suspend the latter.

19. Means for treating in mass a filament formed from viscose which includes a liquid, the specific gravity of which is approximately as great as that of the filament, and containing a chemical capable of acting upon the filament, and a solute afiecting the normal specific gravity of the liquid.

20. Means for treating in mass a filament formed from viscose which includes a liquid containing an aqueous solution of a substance modifying the specific gravity of the solution in correspondence with the specific gravity of the filament to suspend the latter.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Burlington, New Jersey this 20th day of May, 1925.

r S UEL A. NEIDICH.

7 iii 

